Like all medicines, pantoprazole can cause side effects although not everyone gets them. Often side effects improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine.
Rebound acid secretion when stopping
When pantoprazole is stopped, a common side effect is rebound acid secretion, where the acid secretion in your stomach increases significantly. This should return to normal within 2 weeks. Because the symptoms of rebound acid secretion are the same as those of reflux (such as indigestion, discomfort and pain in your upper stomach and chest, feeling sick and an acid taste in your mouth), it can form an ongoing loop where stopping pantoprazole treatment creates the need to start it again.
Rather than restarting pantoprazole, your doctor may advise you to use antacids such as Acidex, Mylanta or Gaviscon. These can be effective for treating rebound acid secretion.
Other side effects
Side effects |
What should I do? |
- Stomach upset, feeling sick
- Feeling bloated, gas in your abdomen (tummy), farting
- Loose stool (mild diarrhoea)
- Constipation
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- These are quite common when you first start taking pantoprazole.
- If you feel sick, try taking pantoprazole with or after a meal or snack.
- Tell your doctor if these side effects bother you.
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- Signs of low magnesium, such as muscle cramps, weakness, tiredness, feeling irritable and changes in heartbeat
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- If you take pantoprazole for more than 3 months, the levels of magnesium in your blood may fall.
- Tell your doctor if you get these side effects.
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- Signs of low vitamin B12 such as feeling very tired, a sore and red tongue, mouth ulcers and pins and needles.
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- This is most likely if you take pantoprazole long-term, on an ongoing basis.
- Tell your doctor if you get these side effects.
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- Severe or ongoing diarrhoea (loose, watery, frequent stools)
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- This can be a sign of an inflamed bowel.
- Tell your doctor immediately.
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- Fever and joint pain along with a red skin rash.
- Rash on parts of your body exposed to the sun, such as your arms, cheeks and nose.
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- Pantoprazole can cause rare conditions called subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus and drug-induced photo-sensitivity reactions. They can happen even if you have been taking pantoprazole for a long time.
- Tell your doctor immediately or phone Healthline 0800 611 116.
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Did you know that you can report a side effect to a medicine to CARM (Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring)? Report a side effect to a product.(external link) |